Starting this week, changes will provide over 40,000 daily riders on the route with faster, more reliable connections to subways, the Long Island Rail Road, and over 20 bus routes on one of the borough’s major north-south corridors; Launch marks the fifteenth SBS route – and builds on the mayor’s commitment to SBS expansion across the five boroughs, while adding transformational safety features to one of New York City’s highest-crash streets.Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on November 13 that the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT), together with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), has this week launched the operation of Select Bus Service (SBS) along Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevards in Queens. The Q52/Q53 SBS marks the 15th SBS route and at more than 14 miles in length, the longest corridor with the service. The project also brings transformational Vision Zero safety improvements to one of the widest and highest-crash streets in New York City.

“Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevards are critical roads in Queens – and from the Rockaways to Elmhurst, residents deserve this first-class service,” said Mayor de Blasio. “We are committed to expanding Select Bus Service even further, as we know it not only brings increased reliability and reduced travel time for bus riders, the dramatic street improvements of SBS will also make our streets safer for pedestrians and motorists.”

“I am happy to announce the arrival of Woodhaven/Cross Bay SBS, which we know will bring faster, more convenient and more reliable bus service to so many Queens communities, most of them without subways,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.

The new SBS route covers 14.7 miles, the longest ever for the service, and the corridor serves over 30,000 daily bus riders, with connections to eight subway lines and over 20 additional bus routes in the Queens communities of Elmhurst, Rego Park, Middle Village, Woodhaven, Ozone Park, Howard Beach, Broad Channel, Rockaway Park, and Arverne. The Q52 and Q53 have combined daily ridership of 20,000 riders, but altogether, over 45,000 daily riders of Queens bus routes, including express bus passengers, will benefit from improvements along Woodhaven and Cross Bay. Across New York City, SBS has delivered 10-30% increases in bus speeds and resulted in a 10 percent increase in ridership along these lines. The project launched this week will be followed by NYC Department of Design & Construction capital construction along the corridor.

Safety Improvements: Between 2011 and 2015, Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevards saw over 3,000 traffic-related injuries and 24 fatalities. DOT and the MTA began outreach for Woodhaven/Cross Bay SBS in 2014, developing the design concept to address myriad concerns identified by both riders and community residents: unreliable and slow bus service; long pedestrian crossings across as many as 10 lanes of traffic; varying road widths and configurations along the corridor; congestion; and the need for transit improvements for customers. The two agencies participated in over 50 community meetings, including sit-downs with stakeholders, elected officials, and the six different community boards that the route serves. DOT also conducted on-street outreach along the route, and collected feedback via online portals.

The corridor contains eight Vision Zero Priority intersections, including at Woodhaven/Union Turnpike, which were all redesigned as part of the arrival of SBS. Altogether, more than 30 intersections are being upgraded and improved for pedestrian safety and/or traffic flow as part of DOT’s largest safety project in 2017. The Q52/53 SBS service along Woodhaven/Cross Bay brings new red-paved bus lanes, real-time bus information, improved pedestrian safety elements and other enhancements, including new median bus stops.

Bus Lane Enforcement: Woodhaven/Cross Bay SBS joins 11 other bus routes where automated camera enforcement will be in effect, and motorists driving in the new red bus lanes along the Q52/Q53 route will be issued mailed warnings starting next Sunday November 19. The warning period extends 60 days, after which violations replace warnings.

Select Bus Service began on the Bx12 route along Fordham Road in the Bronx in 2008, bringing bus rapid transit to New York City for the first time. Select Bus Service features, such as dedicated bus lanes, signal priority, off-board fare collection, and all-door boarding have led to faster bus speeds, increased ridership, more reliable service, and safer streets.